A few months ago, a student took a mock SAT and a mock ACT to see which test was comparably higher.  When the results were in, it was no contest—she scored an 1170 on the SAT.  Her 27 on the ACT was the equivalent of a 1280 on the SAT.  Mother and daughter were both astonished—the daughter preferred to take the SAT because she found it easier.  I explained that, if we prepped for the SAT, she would have to make a decent improvement just to be at the starting point of her ACT score.  She prepped for the ACT.

Apparently, my student is not the only one who prefers the SAT.  The ACT has been losing market share since the section adaptive, computer based, 41 minute-shorter SAT was rolled out.  The ACT had to act fast.

The non-profit ACT was purchased in April by a private equity firm, Nexus Capital Management. Three months after the acquisition, the ACT announced the biggest changes to the test since 1989.  The test will now

• have an optional science section (science is required in the current iteration of the test)
• be shorter—2 hours and 5 minutes without the science, 2 hours and 45 minutes with the science (the current test is 2 hours and 55 minutes)
• have more time per question—58 seconds per question (the current test allots 49 seconds per question)

The new ACT will have a paper and a digital option but will otherwise be identical to each other.  The test will first be administered online beginning in April of 2025 on national test dates.  The first new paper and pencil test is expected in September of 2025 national test dates.  

Will these changes begin the demise of the ACT or will it help increase the ACT’s market share?  Only time will tell.    Suggestion for a topic?  You can reach me at Paul.Pscolka@ivymasters.com 732-485-6480 www.ivymasters.com